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Tight end Delanie Walker was strolling around the locker room without a hitch on Friday. Walker who sustained a dreaded high ankle sprain in Atlanta, is out for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. The same injury sidelined veteran cornerback Will James for over six weeks. But Walker doesn’t anticipate being out for that long. He’s already starting to run and next week plans on cutting. It’s conceivable he could be ready for the Broncos in two weeks.

“I can play with a lot of pain,” he said. His rookie season he played with a torn labrum in his shoulder. His second season, he played with a painful elbow injury. Last year, he played with chronic pain in his foot but posted a career best 221 yards receiving in 16 games. Part of his secret for playing relatively injury free in 2009? Eagle feathers.

His Native American grandfather, a former Los Angeles cop, gave Walker a necklace with silver Eagle feathers as an omen to ward off injuries. Walker wore the necklace under his jersey for most of the season. However, in a 27-13 loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia, Walker took off his jersey after the game and noticed the necklace was gone. Asked if that led to his ankle sprain, Walker said, “Oh man, don’t say that!”

NOTES: Also out for this game is safety Curtis Taylor with a thigh pull. Taylor is one of the 49ers’ core special teams players. … Coach Mike Singletary said he considered hiring Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson two years ago before settling on Jimmy Raye. … Tyre Shamir Duffin, a 17-year old San Franciscan with severe Cerebral Palsy and Spastic Quadriplegia, met his idol, running back Frank Gore after Friday’s practice. Duffin was also mobbed by players and Singletary after practice as part of When U Dream a Dream Foundation. … Patrick Willis refused two requests for interviews Friday. Willis, who has led the league in tackles two of the last three seasons, is tied for 16th in tackles thus far this year. The 49ers have fallen to 18th in run defense. Last year, they finished sixth in that category.